Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1887-07-20

though he is traitor to the land, and though
he has tried to shoot burgher after the
declaration of peace. Refuse, and he dies.
Choose now"
II have chosen" she answered with passion.
"Frank Muller, perjured traitor-yes, MUIR
derer that you are, I will not marry you'll"
every good, very good, Bessie; as you will.
But now one more thing. You shall not say
that have not warned you. If you persist
in this your uncle shall die, but you shall not
escape me. You will not marry me? Well,
even in this country, where I can do most
things, cannot force you to do that. But
can force you to be my wife in all but the
name without marriage; and this, when your
uncle is stiff in his bloody grave, I will do.
You shall have one more chance after the
trial, and one only. If you refuse he shall
die. and then, after his death, I shall take you
away by force, and in a weeks tune you will
be glad enough to marry me to cover up your
shame, my prettyp
"You are devil, Frank Muller, wicked
devil; but will not be frightened into dis
honor by you. had rather kill myself. I
trust to God to help me. I will have nothing
to do with you;" and she put her hands be-
fore her face and burst into tears.
"You look lovely when you weep" he said,
with laugh; tomorrow shall be able to
Kiss away your tears. As you viii. Here,
you!" he shouted to some men, who could be
seen watching the progress Of the dying fire,
"come here"
Some Of the men obeyed, anu he proceeded
TO give instructions in the same terms that he
had given to the other two men who were
watching old Silas, ordering Bessie to be in
stantly incarcerated in the corresponding lit
tie room ON the other side Of the wagon house,
and kept strictly from all communication
with the outside world, adding, however,
these words:
"Bid the burghers assemble in the wagon
house for the trial Of the Englishman, Silas
Croft, for treason against the state and at
tempted murder of one of the burghers of
the state in the execution of the commands Of
the triumvirate."
The two men advanced and seized Bessie by
both arms. Then, faint and overpowered,
she was led through the little plantation, over
a gap in the garden wall, down past the
scorched syringa trees that lined the road
way that ran along the hillside at the back of
the still burning house, till they reached the
wagon house with the two little rooms which
served respectively as a store and harness
room. She was then thrust into the store
room, which was half full of loose potatoes
and mealies in sacks, and the door locked
upon her.
There was no window to this room, and the
only light in it was such as found its way
through the chinks Of the door and an air
hole in the masonry Of the back wall. She
sank on half emptied sack Of mealies and
tried to reflect. Her first idea was Of escape,
but she soon realized that that was practi-
cal impossibility. The stout, yellow wood
door was locked upon her, and sentry stood
before it. She rose and looked through the
air hole in the rear wall, but there another
sentry was posted. Then she turned her at
tention to the side wall that divided the room
from the wagon house. It was built Of four
teen inch green brickwork, and had cracked
from the shrinkage Of the bricks, so that she
could hear anything that went ON in the
wagon house, and even see anybody who
might be moving about in it. But it was far
too strong for her to hope to be able to break
through, and even if she did, it would be use
less, for there were armed men there also.
Besides how could she run away and leave her
old uncle to his fate?